Liquid-measuring apparatus.



1. A; MAcKENZIE & G. W. MAcKENZIE, m

UQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. M, 1914.-

lwwm Patented May 29,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Illllllll WITNESSES INVENTOR5 J. A. MAcKENZlE & G. W. MAcKENZlE, JR-

LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 14.1914

Patented May 29, 1917.-

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mvrarm'oas iuiairnn snares inn env ron.

JAMES .illv. WIACLZEZN mIE AND GEORGE VT. MAQKENZIE, JR, (i1 BEN AVON, PENNSYLVANIA.

mouin-iunnsunnve arranerus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so. rare.

Application filed September M, 191 i. Serial No. sewn.

1 0 all whom it may concern lie it known that we, Jinins A. lilac-linu- 1611-] and Gunner. W. l [.\(,.l E1.\ZIE, Jr, citizens of the United States, residing at Ben Avon. in the county of Allegheny and rltate of Pennsylvania, ha re invented certain new and u'selul lu'i 'irovements in Liquid-lt ieasuring Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

()ur invention relates to improvements in means tordelivering liquids, preferably in measured quantities from a. superimposed. "temporary or secondary measuring tank, connected with amain reservoir, and provided with means for exhausting air from the measuring tank to. utilize atmospheric pressure whereby it is filled from the reservoir.

lfhe invention includes means for producing flow of the fluid from a reservoir to a measuring tank, means for measuring the amount to be delivered therefrom within the measuring tank itself, means for delivering lluid from the measuring tank, and various otherfeaturcs of improvement as shall be more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings,-

Figure l is a general view of one complete form of the a] )paratus in elevation, partly broken away.

Fig. Zis a. view of the secondary or measuring tank in elevation, showing a modified construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view oi the tank (a the uu'idified rmistruetion illustrated in l igil, showing an adjustable sealingfioat and means for locating it at the desired position.

v Fig. 41: 18 a view in elevation, similar to Fig. 2-, showing a modified construction of secrmdary or measuring tank.

Fig.5 is a detail view showing a. connection between the injector 'alve and the secondary tank valve for ope 'ation of both valves together.

The apparatus is particularly designed for handling gasolene and the like, and to utilize a storage tank or. reservoir 2 of a well known construction, preferably underground, and to withdraw a portion of the contents as required. through a secondary or measuring tank. The primary tank 2 is provided with any suitable) filling pipe having a tunnel 4 and shut ofi ('ock'or valve 5.

A, i-elie'l' pi p0 .Cv tor admittingatmospheric air is connected with the upper portion of the tank 2 and may extend to any suitable point thereabove.

The secondary or measuring tank 7 is located atany suitable elevation above the primary tank for delivery by gravity through a pipe 8 having a controlling valve 9, and pipe 8 may have a terminal hose for convenience in charging any receiving vessel, as the tank of an automobile.

A pipe 10 leads from the bottom of tank 7 to the lower portion of tankQ, as indicated, so as to insure exhausting the militants thereof, and is provided with a valve 11.

Tank T is provided at one side with an indicating gage glass 12 whereby the height of the fluid may be seen, and suitable marks showing the'caparity may be placed on the tank adjacent to the indicating gage, ii desired.

For the purpose of creating a partial vacuum in tank 7, any suitable air exhausting means may be employed, but we prefer to use a siphon or injector 13 of suitable construction connected with any source of fluid pressure,- as by pipe ll having a controlling valve 15, connected to an ordinary water supply main or system, and having a waste pipe 16 leading to a sewer or suitable point of discharge. v

A suction pipe 17 is connected with the upper end of tank 7, preferably by an upper extension 18 extending to a suliicient height to be beyond the range oi the ultimate pos sible rise of the fluid upwardly above tank 7. Such extension should be theoretically about thirty-three feet, but for practical purposes may be considerably less, depending on the water pressure in line H and the air eX hausting capacity of the injector 13.

The operation of the apparatus as above described is as follows: Valve 9 being closed and valve'fl opened, water is admitted to injector 13 by valve 15, creating a suction through pipel'fandexhausting air from tank 7. Thereupon fluid will pass from main tank Qth'rough pipe 10, filling tank 7- to any desired extent, whereupon valve 11 is closed, as isalso valve 15.

"The fluid maythen be drawn oli from tank 7 by pipe 8, either entirely or partly. depending on the amount wanted. The re; maining fluid may be retained intank 7 and again withdrawn, or it may be returned to tank 2 by gravity on opening valve 11.

here the tank 7 is used as a measuring tank astoits full content, or partly by use hub of the ll'll'llCilting' marks, it may be entirely filled, or only to any.ru'edetermincd height, within the control of the operator, through the circulation controlling valve ll or valve or the tank may be filled with a surplus and then lowered to the desired level, by drainingoil the surplus back to 'tank 2, and using the remainder.

l or the purpose oi providing means for .l'illiug the secondary tank to any desired or p 'cdeterniincd capacity, it may be constructed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In such arrangement the secondary tank T is connected with the main tank 2 by pipe 10" as above described, but preferably through a check valve controlled passage having a gravity or pressure seating valve 19 in. casing 20. A valve stem 21 is pro iitletl with a lifting finger 22 which is raised up iu'iderneath the valve 19, unseatin it, to return any fluid to the main tank.

17", and within pipe is a tube having at one side a series of rack teeth 25. A toothed wheel 26 meshes into rack and is" mounted on rotatable stem or shaft 27 within a casing 23 on the top of the tank '4", through which casing the tube 2% extends dov-vuwardly into the tank itself.

The lower end of tube 2l is provided with a *alve seat 29 and a float 30 depends from within the lower end of the tube by any suitable flexible or movable connection 31. Float 30 is provided with a coat-ting valve 32, adapted to seat against the valve seat 29 and close it against passage of air, when the float is raised by the fluid rising in the tank. T.

At its upper end, tube 2% is provided with an air tight plunger head or packing 33,-

conlining air circulation to the inner ing through the tube.

The outer end of stem 24 is provided with opensprocket wheel 3i or the like geared by,

chain or otherwise with a similar wheel 36, rotalably -mounted on the side of the tank or in other convenient position. Wheel 38 or its shaft is provided with an operating handle 3? pnd also an indicating pointer-38, a series of ii heating numerals being located in the radio of the pointer circumferentially, each indicating the capacity of the tank, as in gallons, at proportionate heights of the scaling: float, as elevated by operation of the sprocket and rack mechanism above (hwcribed, and as finally elevated by flotation on the iluid to the point where the valve 32 is seated, as desired.

Upon the stem ll and the valve carrying ll at being set for any desired measured amount oi? liquid, and the vacuum creating niecl'ianiszn being set into action, liquid will llow up through pipe 10 until it reaches the Hour, whereupon valve will. scalthe openin o; 729 and terminate the action. Thereupon check valve 15) will seat, and the measured contents may be drawn oil through pipe 8, after closing the valve 15. (losing of said *alve 15 terminates the vacuum-creating suction and rei stablishes normal atmospheric pressure within the measuring tank 7 through waste pipe 16 and suction pipe 17, permitting the liquid within the tank to be drawn oil. If desired at any time, valve 19 may be raised by stem 21, returning any of the liquid to tank 2. Indicator 12' shows the height of the liquid within tank '7 at all times.

In Fig. 4 we show a further modification in which tank 7 is of the construction first described, but supply pipe 10" is provided with a by-pass pipe 39 having a series of branch connections 40 with the tank at successively higher levels, each connection corresponding in distance apart to any predetermined unit of measurement, as one gal lon. These connections are with a controlling valve 41, seen that by filling the tank up toany desired level, as indicated by the gage tube 12 and the indicating marks I, 11, etc, and then opening the particular valve 4-1 at the level corresponding to the amount desired to be measured in and withdrawn from the tank, any surplus above such level will be drawn oil through that particular branch elO' and returned to the main tank, leaving the desired quantity. Such measured quantity may then be drawn oil by pipe 8" for use.

In Fig. 5 we show an arrangement "for operating injector valve 15 and main supply valve 11' together by a singleoperatiug handle ll secured to the stem. of one of the. valves and connected by rod -22 to the lever 43 of the other valve. By this means the suction from and supply to tank 7 may be simultaneously controlled.

The advantages of the invention reside in its facility for pumping any desired and it will be measured amount of liquid without the exercise of manual labor, and the substantially exact measurement of the amount to be withdrawn, without thenccessit-y of retaining any surplus in the measuring tank.

The apparatus is comparatively simple and cheap in construction, very safe when used with combustible or explosive liquids, as gasolene, benzin, etc, and is equally capable of use with any other liquids as oil, liquor, vinegar, etc;

It may be variously changed in design, proportions, detail arrangement, or otherwise by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following cla ms.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for delivering liquid in measured quantities, the combination of a each provided "an a lSFClYOlI, a superimpos i vessel conucc d therewith, an. intervening controlling" valve, an millet conduit having a controlling valve, nie s for exhausiing' air from the slope deposed vessel lo edieei. its partial or entire filling f 0H1 the .niain re' 'ervoii', said superui' oos l vessel being pi-ovil' 2d with an. adjn. able air suction induiij havuxo; a valve seat and a loosely i iclied l'li having a valve depend 211i ou the rise of liquid in ihe ve sel for c eel-ling seal-lug of said valve and i the outflow of fill" there lli'dlf. and

of liquid ill hilt vessel for efieeting seating 0 3 4i li said valve and terminating the outflow of air therefrom and resulting flow of liquid thezreinto.

3. In apparatus for delivering liquid in measured quantities, the combination of a main reservoir, a superimposed vessel conneeted therewith, an intervening controlling valve, an outlet conduit having a conli'olli valve, means for exhausting air from ll'ie superimposed vessel to effect its partial O1"? entire filling from alie main reservoir, said oiu ei'imposed vessel being provided with an adjustable ail." suction conduit having a valve neat and a. loosely attached lioal having, a. valve dependent on the rise of liquid in the v el for effecting seating of said valve and laminating the oul-llow of ihercliioin and resulting flow of liquid linen}- into and "for indicating the contents of said l at he tei'niinaiion of such outflow and ec'liivclv.

l. in :ip iara .oieaeui-ed Quantities, the eon'ibii'iaii'on of a main. irel-iemajiir, a, supei'in'lposed measuring l a'nl-z; coon d ixlicrewitl'i. i'laviu conduit, means for exhausting 'l'yoni the nieauuiiugz; tunic, a vertically movable hollow ne exhaust air and having: a valve seal fill its a lioai. having}; a valve acla 'iicd in seal; there zhe liquid. 1

r y g.

stem .i oriningg conduit for t .ower end, and

into close said conduit by buoyani celivei'ing' licuiid in as for delivering liquid an outletac'ii on of measured quantities, the eonibiualilm of a main. reservoir, a superimposed measuring tank connected therewith havii'ig; an oullel, conduil', a check valve interposed lmliu'eon the measuring tank and the main reservoir, means for exhausting air from lhe measuring tank, a vci iically movable hollow Slllil ll'u'nii'ng a conduit, for the exhaust :ii' and having a valve seat at its lower end, and a float having a valve adapted to seal". therein to close said conduit by buoyant action of the liquid.

6. In apparatus for delivering liquid in measured quaulilics, the con'ibiinltion of a main i'eseivoii", a superimposed measuring *aul; connected theieivith having an outlet conduit, means loc exhausting aiifi'on'i the iiieisiu'ingtank, a vertically movable hollow stein. erminea conduit for the efihaus air a and having a valve seal; at its lower end, a

' lloat. having; a valve adapted to seal; therein to close said conduit by buoyant action of the liquid, and means for adjusting said conduit to varying heights.

7. In apparatus for delivering liquid in measured quantities, the combination of av main reservoir, snow-imposed measuring tank connected therewith having" an outlet conduit, means for exhausting air from the measuring tank, a vertically movable hollow stem forming a conduit. for the exhaust air and having a value seal; at its lower end, a float havinga valve adapted to seal therein to close said conduit by buoyant action of the liquid, rack and pinion niechan'. .i for adjusting said conduit to varying heights, and actuating mechanism therefor provided with a fluid content indicator.

8. In combination with main reservoir and air exhausting mechanism, a measuring lanl; having a pipe leading 4:0 the reservoir and provided with a (illQClL'VEllVQ- and unscating mechanism therefor, a vertically movable hollow stem forming a conduit for exhaust air and having a rack and a valve a float loosely connected having a valve adapted to engage said valve seat a; close the conduit by bliioyanl action of clie liquid, a. pinion engaging the conduit rack, and means for actuating; said pinion ,eeai'cd with an indicating device,

V In testimony whereof we hereunto aliix our signatures in the presence of lzvvo Wilbnesscs.

JAMES A. MAcKENZIE. GEORGE W. lVlao'KllNZlli], 3n. Witnesses i C. M. CLARKE,

to the conduitill) 

